Eleventh - LESTER - 1st Of The Eleven (On Going)

The FALL

Lester never forgot what he saw in the faculty garden. Gusto niyang itanong kay Andie kung sino yun. Why was she so happy when he arrived? Kaso hindi naman sila close. They're not even friends yet. 

It's not too late to forget her. Ni hindi ko nga kilala kung sino siya talaga. Isa pa I haven't invested feelings or what not. Naisio ni Lester habang naglalakad papasok ng school. 

I don't even know why I care this much. We haven't really talked since first day. I mean, oo, sige classmates kame but that's all. We're not friends so what gives? Tsaka ano na lang... 

"A A A A H H H H!!!"

Dinig na dinig ni Lester yung tili kahit nasa may Guidance Office palang siya. And then a girl's voice, in pain. A familiar voice.

"Andie?!" 

Lester didn't think twice. He ran as fast as he could. And there she was, slumped at the bottom of the stairs, trying to stifle her tears. Her things, a mess.

Sniff. Sniff. "Ooow" hindi maipinta yung mukha ni Andie. Halos nakakabaliw na inis dun sa batang bumangga sa kanya on her way up the Library building. Sakit, ofcourse dahil sa physical pain and shame because people are looking but she saw someone actually rushing to her.

"Andie!!" Lester called habang tumatakbo. Halos madapa pa siya sa pagmamadali. "Anong nangyari sayo?", you can hear panic almost brewing in his voice.

"Can't... stand..." was all Andie could muster. Masakit ang buong likod niya. Siguro kasi napaupo siya pagbagsak. But she also feel her right shoulder and her right ankle pounding.

"Teka." hindi na gumagana ng tama ang utak ni Lester. "Ano, uhm, dalhin kita sa clinic. Oo, dadalhin kita sa clinic" his palms are getting sweaty. 

Meron isang importanteng bagay na nakalimutan si Lester. Hindi niya natanong kung saan ang masakit kay Andie so he tried to life her using her right arm kaya halos mabasag ang eardrums niya nung napasigaw si Andie sa sakit. 

She was still trying to stop her tears from actually falling.

"So.. sorry Andie. Hindi ko sadya. Sorry. I'm so sorry" this time, Lester was really in panic.

"Think I broke my right shoulder and ankle. Prob'ly my hip as well" Andie tried to explain. Hindi niya makuhang magalit kay Lester kahit na tumatayo na lahat ng balahibo niya sa sakit. 

He's just tryin' to help. Andie tried to muster a smile for her classmate.

"Uhm... sige... ganto..." halos maiyak na din si Lester. Hindi na niya alam kung anong gagawin. " Dyan ka lang. I'll get the nurse. Dyan ka lang ha. Don't try moving."

"I'll be here, I guess" nasabi nalang ni Andie sa sarili but dark thoughts are starting to tease her. Her mom would surely find out about this and she wouldn't listen to reason.

This is your fault, Andie!! she can hear her mom's voice in her head and she started crying, silently.

Oh no... 

Students are now starting to absorb what just happened. Nakasalampak pa rin siya sa may steps sa tapat ng Library. It is not a crowded place since not so many kids like reading nowadays but still there were passers by.

"Uy, are you okay" one student dared as her.

Does this look okay to you? Andie's sarcatic little mind retorted but she chose better words. "Broke some bones, I think. Pero pumunta na sa clinic yung classmate ko. I'll be fine" and yet again, she tried to muster a smile even when her puffy eyes and red face says everything.

"Sure ka?"

"Yep" and she gave a thumb up with her left hand. Para umalis na rin yung batang mausisa.

"Andie!!!" medyo malayo yung boses. Akala niya si Lester na. It felt like eternity, sitting there, waiting for help.

"Kuya?" Andie was more of baffled. Muntik na nga niyang makalimutan na masakit ang buong katawan niya. 

"Anong nangyari sa'yo? Di ka kasi nag-iingat eh" sabi ni Dexter habang paluhod para icheck yung injury. Athlete si Dexter kaya may alam siya about broken  bones and such. "Saan ba masakit?"

"Why are you here? How'd you know?" pag-usisa ni Andie.

Medyo natawa pa si Dexter pero mas concerned siya. Sa tingin palang kasi kay Andie maswerte na kung isa lang ang may bali sa kanya. Minsan talaga hindi ko din maintindihan kung pa'no tumatakbo 'yang utak mo. "Gusto mo bang sagutin ko yang tanong mo? O mas gusto mo bang tulungan kita?"

This was something that made Andie smile a little, almost about to laugh if not because of the pain.

"Sorry. Fell down a couple of steps but Lester already went to the clinic."

Lester?! medyo kumunot ang noo ni Dexter sa pag-iisip kung kanino yung pangalan na sinabi ni Andie.

"But I think I broke something." My pride... Andie added in her head. Hindi din niya alam kung bakit pero she's comfortable around Dexter. They are not connected by blood but she feels safer when he's around. Andie felt helpless. She can't even move an inch to make her position more comfortable 'cause she's afraid she'll make things worse. But what actually makes it worse, Andie doesn't like the feeling of helplessness. Tears are now falling uncontrollably.

"Ey, ey, bunso. No need to say sorry. Hindi mo naman kasalanan. Aksidente yung mga ganto. I'll go check the nurse, okay? Just stay here." 

Hinawakan ni Dexter ang mga kamay ni Andie to assure her na babalik siya kaagad. Paalis na sana si Dexter pero may narinig siyang nagmamadali.

"Andie andito..." nakita ni Lester na may ibang nakahawak sa kamay ni Andie. "na.. yung nurse."